Trump ends Biden-administered methane rule, says it will unlock 210 million barrels of oil

President Donald Trump said Tuesday his administration is ending a Biden-era rule aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas drilling.

The president announced the move at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, saying it would save energy consumers and producers $45 billion and unlock 210 million barrels of oil.

“Tonight, I am officially ending Biden’s costly and unnecessary methane regulations to save energy consumers and producers $45 billion, unlock vast amounts of Texas natural gas, and produce 210 million barrels of oil,” Trump said.

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President Donald Trump said Tuesday his administration is ending a Biden-era rule aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)

He added: “We’ve been working on this for a long time.”

The setback comes as Trump pushes to increase domestic energy production amid high fuel prices and the U.S. war against Iran.

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The president announced the move at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas, saying it would save energy consumers and producers $45 billion and unlock 210 million barrels of oil. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Methane is the main component of natural gas and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane emissions, according to the Associated Press.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said last month that the agency would end its “Super Emitters Program,” which requires companies to find and repair major methane leaks. The EPA would also relax rules for small oil and gas wells, the outlet reported.

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The setback comes as Trump pushes to increase domestic energy production amid high fuel prices and the U.S. war against Iran. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

“Trump’s EPA is committed to solving this problem so that the United States can reach its full energy potential,” Zeldin said at the time.

Environmental groups have criticized the rollback, arguing it would increase pollution.

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“EPA should be fighting this waste, not making it easier,” said Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.